by Cynthia Eden
Someone had left a backup plan behind. She started to smile.
A twig snapped behind her. Tensing, she glanced over her shoulder.
No Az. No other vengeful Death Angel coming at her, either. No—
“Going somewhere?” Az’s deep voice demanded.
She jumped and lost her breath. Then she yanked her gaze back around, following the sound of his voice. He was in front of the bike, head cocked, arms folded over his chest.
Her breath came back, only to be expelled in a fast rush. “I just . . . I thought I saw this”—she waved her hand toward the motorcycle—“last night. And while you were sleeping, I figured I’d check it out.” Her gaze held his and refused to drop, even when that too-intense stare searched hers.
“You’re lying to me.”
Okay, some shifters were supposed to be able to pick up on lies, maybe to even smell them, but did angels have some built-in lie detector, too? She didn’t think so.
“No, I’m not.” She’d bluff her way through this.
His smile held a cold edge. “After everything, were you going to just drive away and leave me?”
The darkness was even more intense in him today.
She reached for his hand. “No, I want us to both get the hell out of here.” Unhallowed ground. Translation—ground they needed to fucking get away from. It was working some kind of bad mojo on Az, and she wanted her hero back.
She sure didn’t want to deal with his bizarro dark side.
He glanced down at her hand. She followed his gaze. Her skin seemed so pale, while his was darker, golden.
“I dreamed about you.”
She swallowed. Okay, dreams were good, they were—
“You died in my arms.”
Dreams sucked. When his stare returned to her face, Jade tried to smile. “Good thing dreams don’t come true, huh?”
“For angels, they do.”
Her smile fell away.
“We see when our charges will take their last breath. We know of the moment that we must take them with our touch.” He was holding her hand and stroking his fingers over the back of her knuckles. “I’ve taken thousands of lives. Never hesitated even once. Not like Keenan.”
She had no idea who Keenan was. “Sorry, don’t think I know him.”
Faint lines appeared around his eyes. “Keenan was a powerful Death Angel. But when it came time for him to take his latest charge, he hesitated. He felt sympathy for the mortal, and he didn’t want to take her soul.”
Jade didn’t know what to say, but that was okay because Az wasn’t done talking.
He said, “Keenan lost his wings for her.”
That was kind of sweet. “So they survived? Got to live happily ever after?” Great, now she sounded like a fairy tale. Maybe even a perky greeting-card-wannabe girl.
The goose bumps on her arms were getting worse. A cold wind seemed to surround her.
“Because Keenan didn’t take her when he should have, his mortal was bitten by a vampire.”
Jade tensed.
“Now Nicole St. James has to spend an eternity feeding off others.”
So, not a happy ending.
“Keenan knew what he had to do,” Az continued, voice a deep growl. “I told him, but he wouldn’t give her up. He was ready to trade his life for hers.”
She didn’t like where this was going. “I don’t want anyone to trade for me.” She wouldn’t be taking on that burden, thank you very much. “So if an Angel of Death is coming, he’s coming for me. Not for anyone else.”
The blackness deepened in Az’s eyes. That was just creepy. Was her angel showing some demonic tendencies? He needed to stop. “Let’s get out of here,” she whispered. “Please, Az, let’s just go.”
He leaned over her. Seemed to surround her. “You want me to stand back and let death take you?” Fury snapped through his words.
She didn’t back down. “I want you to get your ass on that motorcycle and get us the hell out of here.” Because she felt like Death was reaching out to grab her with his icy fingers right then.
It’s this place. We’ve got to leave.
Locking his hands around her arms, Az grabbed her and lifted her onto her tiptoes. “I know how Keenan felt,” Az muttered. “What I asked him to do . . . I know now.”
Wonderful. Fabulous. They could—
“I told him to just kill her. To touch her, take her soul, and come back home. To forget about her.”
Jade frowned up at him. That was some cold-blooded shit.
Az’s mouth curled, but that was no grin on his face. “Bastion told you I wasn’t the good guy. And you should know . . . angels can’t lie.”
Oh, hell. She tried to jerk away from him. He just held her tighter.
“I know how Keenan felt,” Az grated. “Because if Bastion came to me and told me to kill you, I’d destroy him.”
She froze.
“How?”
Now Jade was lost. How what?
“What did you do to me?” His hands tightened on her. “I never cared for a human, but I can’t let anyone hurt you.” The blue flashed back again in his eyes, as if he were fighting something. Someone. “Even myself.”
In the next moment, Jade found herself on the back of the motorcycle. Az was in front of her, revving the engine.
“Hold on!”
She locked her arms around his stomach. Held as tight as she could. The motorcycle rocked forward with a blast of power that she didn’t think was entirely natural.
But then, the unnatural was becoming more normal for her every day. Jade glanced back at the old cabin. The woods were so twisted around it now that the vines and vegetation appeared to swallow the place. And, for an instant, she could have sworn she saw thin, ghostly images walking near the woods.
Images that stared after her with fury.
Before vanishing in the light.
Jade turned her head away and pressed her face against Az’s back. Whatever the hell that place had been, she never wanted to go back there again. She had more than enough darkness in her life.
Curses, spirits—they could just stay the hell away from her.
Az braked in front of an all too familiar looking dive in New Orleans. He killed the engine and shoved down the kickstand.
Jade glanced up at the entrance of Sunrise. Didn’t almost dying in the place once mean that they should probably stay away? She thought that might be a good guide for them to follow.
And she realized that she was still clinging tightly to Az. Clearing her throat, she managed to unhand the guy and climb from the motorcycle. “Wanna tell me why we’re walking down bad memory lane? I mean, we’ve got the whole city as a meeting place, did you have to tell Tanner to catch up with us here?” Only, they weren’t meeting Tanner right then. It was a long way until midnight, and she sure didn’t want to just kick the time away in that hole.
Az glanced at her. His blond hair shone in the sunlight. No helmets for them—none had been stashed with the bike. Yeah, they were all about dancing with death.
He studied her a moment. His eyes were back to being that bright blue that she loved—thank goodness. Hopefully, “bad Az” had been left behind at that hell-forsaken cabin in the woods.
“We need brimstone.” He climbed off the motorcycle.
She sighed. “Yeah, well, unless you’re planning to make a little pit stop into hell, getting brimstone might be a problem for us.” Taking a field trip into hell wasn’t her idea of a good time.
Az strolled past her and his fist pounded against the closed front doors of the bar. The place might be called Sunrise, but she knew it didn’t open until well after sunset.
Jade glanced nervously up and down the street. Being out in the open wasn’t such a stellar plan. She inched closer to Az. Her fingers slid down the side of his arm. “Maybe we should come back tonight.” They could find a nice spot to lay low until then.
He shook his head. “It’s better when no one’s around.” He stopped pounding,
obviously getting the hint that the door wasn’t going to be answered. Az waved his hand, and the entrance flew open. The doors banged against the interior walls.
Handy, having power like that.
“Come on.” He took her hand, and they hurried inside. The doors slammed closed behind her. “Maybe it’s here.”
Um . . . it?
The club was dark, with sunlight barely trickling inside. Chairs had been stacked on top of the tables, and the curtains were closed on the small stage. The scent of a dozen perfumes lingered in the air. A heavy, golden cage hung from the ceiling above them. Yeah, that cage freaked her a bit.
They’d taken about ten steps inside when she heard the growl. The hair on her neck rose at the guttural sound. “Az . . .”
He stopped and turned to the left. A heavy, metal door waited about twenty feet away. A door that had been padlocked.
“Perfect,” Az said, and actually sounded like he meant it. “I thought they might keep it here during the day.”
Again with the “it” that made her so nervous.
“Stay here,” he said.
Right. Like she wanted to go following him toward that creepy growl. No, thanks. She backed up a few steps, just to be on the safe side. Let the tough angel go investigate, she’d just—
Strong hands closed around her shoulders. Jade didn’t waste breath screaming. Brandt. She spun around and struck out with her clenched fist.
And the guy caught her fist mid-punch.
Not Brandt. She recognized Sammael instantly. No mistaking those eyes that looked like they’d spent way too much time gazing into hell.
More monster than man.
“Well, hello there,” he murmured, his voice a silky threat. “I see my brother has taken to breaking into my place . . . and bringing violent friends to visit.”
Don’t show fear, but . . . “Tell me you aren’t here to kill me.”
He smiled.
“He’s not.” Az was at her side. Pushing the other guy back. “Sam owns Sunrise.”
Now the breaking and entering bit made sense.
Sam lifted a dark brow as he studied her. “Well aren’t you just something . . . different.”
Jade shook her head. “Since when does being mortal make me different? You guys are the strange ones, not me.” She couldn’t go around touching people and making them drop dead. If only. Then she wouldn’t be in this mess.
Sam took a step forward, sliding more into the light, and she saw the ripple of shadowy wings stretching from behind his body. Wings that weren’t there. Wings she shouldn’t see.
Bastion’s wings had seemed to break right through his clothes. But, since angels could conjure clothes, she figured it was really just some magical clothing fit over the wings. With Az and Sam, the same thing appeared to be happening with their shadow wings. The shadows just burst right through the back of their shirts.
They didn’t even seem to realize it.
And she’d been staring at him too long. Flushing, Jade yanked her gaze back to meet his. Too late. Judging by the look on his face, he knew she’d been staring at wings she shouldn’t see.
“Different,” he murmured again. “A demon made, not born.”
“What?” Her heart slammed into her ribs. “Did you just call me a demon?”
But now the guy wasn’t even looking at her. His gaze drifted to Az. “You’ve been screwing with the wrong people, Azrael. Heaven wants you dead, and the bastards here on earth want to give you a one-way ticket to hell.”
She noticed he didn’t sound particularly concerned.
And Az shrugged, not looking like he really gave a damn either. Since when did life not matter to him?
“Where’s the hound?” Az asked, and she saw his gaze sweep around the bar—and return to those locked metal doors.
Sam lifted one brow. “Why? You eager for that trip to hell? I suppose Beelzebub can drag you there. Though I would have thought you’d learned your lesson after that last round with a hound.”
“Wait a second here.” Jade held up her hands. Her head was starting to throb like a bitch. “Who’s Beelzebub?”
“My mate’s pet hellhound.” Sam grinned. It was a terrifying sight. “And I’d wager he’s getting pretty hungry about now.”
Oh, no. No way. The guy had not just said—in a flash, Jade grabbed Az’s arm and forced him to face her. “There’s a hellhound here? A real, live, freaking hellhound?”
And what sane person would want to be around a beast like that?
“Before she fell, Sam’s . . . mate . . . was a punishment angel.” Az’s gaze held hers. “Punishment angels are the only ones who can control the beasts.”
“That’s right.” A woman’s smooth voice floated in the air. Jade spun around and saw a gorgeous blonde stroll up next to Sam. Her eyes were dark and measuring as they swept over Jade. “Beelzebub isn’t some attack dog that I loan out,” the woman said and she sounded . . . offended. Definitely huffy. The blonde paused and added, “He’s family.”
Right. Because it was normal to have a hellhound as a pet. No, as family. Jade released Az and stood there, trying not to look as frightened as she felt.
“I just need his claws.” Az turned toward the blonde. His hands were loose at his sides now. “It’s not like they won’t grow back.”
Sam threw back his head and laughed. “You think a hellhound is gonna let you trim his nails? Not fucking likely, brother. More like he’ll rip you open.” The smirk remained on his face. “Though I do think you’ve got a bit of pain due your way.”
The woman’s stare was still on Jade. “She’s . . . she’s not human.” Her voice was soft and husky.
Sam pressed his lips to the blonde’s cheek. “Az has been a very, very bad Fallen. Seems he’s gotten into the business of making demons.”
A fist seemed to slam into Jade’s stomach. That was the second time he’d mentioned her being a demon. She glanced over at Az. “What’s he talking about?” You couldn’t just make a demon. At least, she didn’t think you could.
“Do you know what being is created,” Sam asked in that rumbling voice of his, “when an angel and a human reproduce?”
She didn’t really want a biology lesson, but she actually knew this. “A demon.” She’d heard these legends. Stories said that modern demons were actually the descendants of the original Fallen. Those who’d left heaven because they were tempted by the humans.
You’re my temptation.
She shoved away the memory of Az’s angry words. The demons on this earth weren’t minions of the devil—at least, she didn’t think they were. Some were all powerful, able to wreck as much destruction as a hurricane. Others were barely more gifted than human psychics.
Either way, she wasn’t a demon.
“You can see our wings,” Sam said as the lady with him watched silently. “That means you have angel blood in you.”
Jade straightened her shoulders. “Az saved my life. I was dying. He-he gave me the blood so I’d survive.”
A frown pulled down Sam’s dark brows. “How very un-Az-like.” He shook his head even as he pointed at Az. “That would explain why the angels have a hard-on for you. I bet Uriel is eager to lay out some particularly painful punishment for you.”
“He doesn’t deserve punishment!” Now her voice was getting loud. Who cared? “Didn’t you hear me? Az saved my life!”
“And changed fate.” It was the woman again. The too-pretty lady with the eyes that saw too much. “Now, Az, how will you protect her when the Angels of Death come?”
“Making her a demon has only marked her more.” Sam seemed regretful. “They’ll say she’s an abomination. Made, not born.”
The woman flinched. Sam brushed his fingers over her cheek. He appeared regretful—had to be fake—as he said, “You’ve just put a bigger target on her back. As far as I know, a human has never become a demon before—”
Her control snapped. “I’m not a demon!” A hot blast of air seemed to whip t
hrough the room.
“Why didn’t you tell her?” The woman asked Az. “Didn’t you think she deserved to know the life she’d lived was over?”
No, no, that chick was wrong.
“Human blood.” Sam sighed. “Mix it with angel blood. We’ve already said what type of being will be created . . .”
“Demon,” Jade snapped out.
“You’re a whole new breed,” Sam continued and the guy studied her like she was some kind of science experiment. She was starting to feel like she was. “Wonder just how strong you’ll be?” Then he moved with angel speed, instantly appearing right in front of her. He wrapped his hand around her neck and lifted her off her feet. “Or how weak?”
She couldn’t breathe. Jade kicked him as hard as she could—
And Az tackled him.
Jade fell to the ground. Her hand automatically rose to her throat. The bar seemed to dip and sway and a giant crack raced across the top of the ceiling.
“Don’t you ever try to hurt her again!” Az’s bellow. He had his brother up against the wall and his fist was raised as he prepared to do some damage to Sam’s face.
Sam wasn’t fighting. Just laughing. Then he said, “You are so fucking lost. You can’t get back upstairs if you’re breaking rules and making new demons.”
Sam’s mate hadn’t moved, but her body was tense and Jade saw her gaze dart toward the padlocked doors.
Uh, oh. Jade’s gaze followed that crack in the ceiling once more. The bar had been shaking, but she didn’t think that power burst had come from the two Fallen. That crack went to the left, following the path of the woman’s gaze and heading toward those metal doors.
Just what was behind that lock?
Hellhound.
“Az . . .” She licked her lips. “I think . . . we . . . we should leave now.” Dealing with a psychotic panther was bad enough. Facing a hellhound?
Not today, please.
But a growl was rumbling through the building. Az stared down at Sam. “He’s still under orders to protect you, isn’t he?” Az asked.
One of Sam’s shoulders lifted, then fell, in an almost careless move. “What can I say? Seline likes to keep me safe.”